Portable electronic device

ABSTRACT

The problem of the present invention is to provide a tablet-type portable electronic device that can perform payment by way of a card, as well as having a compact size. A tablet-type portable electronic device of the present invention includes a plate-shaped housing having a front surface, a touch panel and display unit provided to the front surface of the housing, and reading units that perform reading processing of a card related to payment. The reading units are configured integrally with the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.14/649,814, filed on Jun. 4, 2015, which is a National Phase ofInternational Application No. PCT/JP2013/080355, filed on Nov. 8, 2013,which claims benefit of Japan Application No. 2013-158474, filed on Jul.31, 2013, the entire contents of all of which are hereby incorporated byreference

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tablet-type portable electronicdevice having the payment function for cards.

BACKGROUND ART

Tablet-type portable electronic devices have come to be popular (e.g.,refer to Patent Document 1). On the other hand, payment terminalsdedicated for making payments with various cards (credit cards, cashcards, etc.) consisting of IC cards and magnetic cards are also known(e.g., refer to Patent Document 2).

Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, PublicationNo. 2012-215682

Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, PublicationNo. 2013-003810

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

A tablet-type portable electronic device that can perform payment by wayof a card as well as being compact has been demanded.

The present invention has an object of providing a tablet-type portableelectronic device that can perform payment by way of a card as well asbeing compact.

Means for Solving the Problems

The present invention is a tablet-type portable electronic deviceincluding: a plate-shaped housing; a touch panel and display unitprovided to a front surface of the housing; and a reading unit thatperforms reading processing of a card related to payment, in which thereading unit is configured integrally with the housing.

In addition, the reading unit may include an IC reading unit thatperforms reading processing of an IC card serving as the card, and amagnetic reading unit that performs reading processing of a magneticcard serving as the card, the IC reading unit may have an IC sensor thatacquires electronic information from an IC chip of the IC card, and anIC insertion groove provided in the housing for guiding the IC chip ofthe IC card to a position of the IC sensor, the magnetic reading unitmay include a magnetic sensor that acquires magnetic information from amagnetic recording part of the magnetic card, and a magnetic insertiongroove provided in the housing for guiding the magnetic recording partof the magnetic card to a position of the magnetic sensor, and the ICinsertion groove and the magnet insertion groove may be overlapping inportions thereof.

Furthermore, a bottom part of the IC insertion groove may be providedmore in an interior region than a bottom part of the magnet insertiongroove, in an insertion direction of the IC card to the IC insertiongroove, and the IC card may be arranged in the interior region.

Moreover, the IC insertion groove may include an embossing groove parthaving a shape corresponding to an embossing of the IC card.

Additionally, the IC reading unit may include a contact-type IC readingunit that performs reading processing of a contact-type IC card servingas the IC card, and a non-contact-type IC reading unit that performsreading processing of a non-contact-type IC card serving as the IC card.

Furthermore, the housing and the display unit may be substantiallyrectangular in a front view of the portable electronic device, and

the contact-type IC reading unit and the magnetic reading unit may bearranged to a side of one vertical lateral surface of the housing, andthe non-contact-type IC reading unit may be arranged to a side ofanother vertical lateral surface of the housing.

Effects of the Invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide atablet-type portable electronic device that can perform payment by wayof a card, as well as being compact.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a portable electronic device 1 ofan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment;

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a partial right-side view of the portable electronic device 1of the embodiment;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view showing a reading situation of a cardduring payment by way of the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment, showing reading of a magnetic card C1;

FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a reading situation of a cardduring payment by way of the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment, showing reading of a contact-type IC card C2;

FIG. 5C is a perspective view showing a reading situation of a cardduring payment by way of the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment, showing reading of a non-contact-type IC card C3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B in FIG. 2.

PREFERRED MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a portable electronic device 1 of an embodiment of thepresent invention will be explained while referencing the drawings. FIG.1 is a perspective view showing the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of theportable electronic device 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a partiallyenlarged view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a partial right-side view of theportable electronic device 1 of the embodiment. FIG. 5A is a perspectiveview showing a reading situation of a card during payment by way of theportable electronic device 1 of the embodiment, showing reading of amagnetic card C1. FIG. 5B is a perspective view showing a readingsituation of a card during payment by way of the portable electronicdevice 1 of the embodiment, showing reading of a contact-type IC cardC2. FIG. 5C is a perspective view showing a reading situation of a cardduring payment by way of the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment, showing reading of a non-contact-type IC card C3. FIG. 6 isa cross-sectional view along the line A-A in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is across-sectional view along the line B-B in FIG. 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the portable electronic device 1 of theembodiment includes a housing 2, a touch panel display unit 3, amagnetic reading unit 4, a contact-type IC reading unit 5, and anon-contact-type reading unit 6. The portable electronic device 1 mayinclude general functions as a tablet-type terminal, e.g., a wiredcommunication unit, wireless communication unit, buttons as an inputdevice, speaker, and GPS (Global Positioning System) unit.

The housing 2 configures an external principle part of the portableelectronic device 1, and has a substantially rectangular shape of a flatplate shape. The housing 2 includes an oblong, substantially rectangularfront surface 21 and back surface 22, top surface 23, bottom surface 24,right surface 25 and left surface 26.

It should be noted that “substantially rectangular” in the presentspecification includes all shapes considered as rectangles in theoverall perspective and, for example, also includes a perfect rectangle,rectangles having rounded corners, shapes having sides slightly curved,and the like.

The housing 2 includes a front cover 210 mainly constituting the frontsurface 21, a frame 230 mainly constituting the top surface 23, bottomsurface 24, right surface 25 and left surface 26, and a rear cover 220mainly constituting the back surface 22.

In each drawing, the thickness direction, longitudinal direction andlateral direction are respectively referred to as thickness directionD1, longitudinal direction D2 and lateral direction D3. In addition, inthe thickness direction D1, the direction towards the front surface 21is referred to as forward direction D11, and the direction towards theback surface 22 is referred to as the rear direction D12. In thelongitudinal direction D2, the direction towards the top surface 23 isreferred to as the up direction D21, and the direction towards thebottom surface 24 is referred to as the down direction D22. In thelateral direction D3, the direction towards the right surface 25 isreferred to as the right direction D31, and the direction towards theleft surface 26 is referred to as the left direction D32.

The front cover 210 is configured from a translucent material such asglass or plastic. The front cover 210 includes a rectangular transparentdisplay region 211, and an opaque frame region 212 that encircles thefour sides of the display region 211. The display region 211 and frameregion 212 are arranged on the same plane.

The rear cover 220 is configured by a metallic material such as aluminumalloy or magnesium alloy, for example.

The front cover 210 and rear cover 220 are arranged in parallel with aninterval from each other in the thickness direction D1 of the housing 2.In other words, the rear cover 220 is arranged on an opposite side inthe thickness direction D1 of the housing 2 relative to the front cover210.

The frame 230 is provided between the front cover 210 and rear cover220. The frame 230 is configured by a metallic material such as aluminumalloy or magnesium alloy, or a high-rigidity resin, for example.High-rigidity resin is a fiber reinforced resin produced by mixing anadditive such as glass fiber, carbon fiber, other reinforcing fiber andtalc into a resin.

The frame 230 is continuous in the peripheral direction so as toconstitute the top surface 23, bottom surface 24, right surface 25 andleft surface 26.

The touch panel display unit 3 is provided to the front surface 21 ofthe housing 2. The touch panel display unit 3 includes a touch panel anda display unit. The touch panel is of piezoelectric-type orelectrostatic-type having a contact-type input function. The touch panelis fixed by a means such as adhesive to the rear surface side of thedisplay region 211 of the front cover 210. The display unit has asubstantially rectangular display screen that displays images andpictures in the front surface view of the housing 2. The display screenis arranged at the rear surface side of the touch panel.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the magnetic reading unit 4 performs readingprocessing of the magnetic card C1. As shown in FIG. 5B, thecontact-type IC reading unit 5 performs reading processing of thecontact-type IC card C2. As shown in FIG. 5C, the non-contact-type ICreading unit 6 performs reading processing of the non-contact-type ICcard C3.

The magnetic reading unit 4, contact-type IC reading unit 5 andnon-contact-type IC reading unit 6 are integrally configured with thehousing 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the magnetic reading unit 4 includes themagnetic sensor 41 and magnet insertion groove 42.

The magnetic sensor 41 is called a magnet head, and acquires magneticinformation from a magnetic recording part of the magnetic card C1. Themagnet insertion groove 42 is provided in the housing 2 for guiding themagnetic recording part of the magnetic card C1 to the position of themagnetic sensor 41. The magnetic sensor 41 is arranged inside of thehousing 2 so that the detection part thereof faces the interior of themagnet insertion groove 42.

The magnet insertion groove 42 extends linearly in the longitudinaldirection D2, and opens to the top surface 23 and bottom surface 24. Inaddition, the magnet insertion groove 42 opens to the right surface 25,and is concave at the bottom in the left direction D32. A bottom part421 of the magnet insertion groove 42 extends linearly in thelongitudinal direction D2. The thickness of the magnet insertion groove42 (thickness in the thickness direction D1 of the housing 2) isslightly thicker than the thickness of the magnetic card C1 (thicknessof a region other than an embossing C12 in which the name and cardnumber are punched).

For this reason, as shown in FIG. 5A, after inserting the magnetic cardC1 in the magnet insertion groove 42, it is possible to slide themagnetic card C1 in the longitudinal direction D2 without backlash. Itshould be noted that, even if inserting the magnetic card C1 until thebottom part 421 of the magnet insertion groove 42, the embossing C12 ofthe magnetic card C1 will not be positioned in the magnet insertiongroove 42.

By positioning a part of the magnetic card C1 inside of the magnetinsertion groove 42, and moving the magnetic card C1 in the longitudinaldirection D2, the magnetic information in the magnetic recording part ofthe magnetic card C1 is acquired by the magnetic sensor 41.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the contact-type IC reading unit 5 includes acontact-type IC sensor 51 and an IC insertion groove 52.

The contact-type IC sensor 51 acquires electronic information from theIC chip by contacting the IC chip of the contact-type IC card C2. The ICinsertion groove 52 is provided to the housing 2 for guiding the IC chipof the contact-type IC card C2 to the position of the contact-type ICsensor 51.

The IC insertion groove 52 opens in the right surface 25, and isconcaved with a bottom towards the left direction D32. A bottom part 521of the IC insertion groove 52 is positioned more to the left directionD32 than the bottom part 421 of the magnet insertion groove 42. In otherwords, in the insertion direction of the contact-type IC card C2 to theIC insertion groove 52 (left direction D32), the IC insertion groove 52becomes deeper than the magnet insertion groove 42.

That is, in the insertion direction of the contact-type IC card C2 tothe IC insertion groove 52 (left direction D32), the bottom part 521 ofthe IC insertion groove 52 is provided more in an interior region 525than the bottom part 421 of the magnet insertion groove 42. The interiorregion 525 is a region in the IC insertion groove 52 that is a regionmore to the interior than the magnet insertion groove 42.

The contact-type IC sensor 51 is arranged at the interior region 525. Indetail, the contact-type IC sensor 51 is arranged inside of the housing2 so that the detection unit thereof faces an inner part of the interiorregion 525 of the IC insertion groove 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, in a right surface view, the IC insertion groove 52includes an embossing groove part 522 and a main groove part 523. Theembossing groove part 522 has a shape corresponding to an embossing C22of the contact-type IC card C2. The main groove part 523 has a shapecorresponding to a region C21 other than the embossing C22 of thecontact-type IC card C2.

The thickness of the main groove part 523 (thickness in thicknessdirection D1 of housing 2) is slightly thicker than the thickness of theregion C21 other than the embossing C22 of the contact-type IC card C22,and is slight thinner than the thickness of the embossing C22 of thecontact-type IC card C2. In addition, the thickness of the embossinggroove part 522 (thickness in the thickness direction D1 of the housing2) is slightly thicker than the thickness of the embossing C22 of thecontact-type IC card C2.

For this reason, it is possible to insert the contact-type IC card C2 inthe IC insertion groove 52, if positioning the embossing C22 of thecontact-type IC card C2 in the embossing groove part 522 of the ICinsertion groove 52. Then, the contact-type IC card C2 can be made toslide in the left direction D32 without backlash.

When inserted to the interior region 525 of the IC insertion groove 52,the contact-type IC card C2 is retained thereby. The electronicinformation in the IC chip of the contact-type IC card C2 is therebyacquired by the contact-type IC sensor 51.

As shown in FIG. 3, both entrance edges 526 at the entrances of theinterior region 525 of the IC insertion groove 52 are rounded (formingR) in the front view. Upon inserting the contact-type IC card C2 in theinterior region 525 of the IC insertion groove 52, the contact-type ICcard C2 tends to be guided to the interior region 525. In addition, whenthe magnetic card C1 is made to slide in the magnet insertion groove 42,even if the magnetic card C1 seems like it will move to the interiorregion 525 of the IC insertion groove 52, the magnetic card C1 will hitthe entrance edge 526 (526A) of the interior region 525. Upon doing so,since the entrance edges 526 (526A) are rounded, the magnetic card C1 ishardly obstructed at the entrance edge 526 (526A), and the movementdirection of the magnetic card C1 is rectified in the appropriatedirection.

It should be noted that, among the two entrance edges 526 of theinterior region 525, an entrance edge 526B positioned on the upstreamside in the movement direction (down direction D22) of the magnetic cardC1 may be angular without rounding.

In addition, the magnet insertion groove 42 and IC insertion groove 52overlap in a portion of these. In detail, in the IC insertion groove 52,a region more in the right direction D31 than the bottom part 421 of themagnet insertion groove 42 becomes a region in which the magnetinsertion groove 42 and IC insertion groove 52 overlap (also referred toas “overlap region 524”).

As shown in FIG. 2, the non-contact-type IC reading unit 6 includes anon-contact-type IC sensor 61. The non-contact-type IC sensor 61consists of an antenna. The non-contact-type IC card C3 includes an ICchip and antenna. By sending and receiving data between the antenna ofthe non-contact-type IC sensor 61 and the antenna of thenon-contact-type IC card C3, the non-contact-type IC reading unit 6acquires electronic information from the IC chip in the non-contact-typeIC card C3 arranged in the vicinity of the non-contact-type IC sensor 61on the side of the front surface 21 of the housing 2. As an example ofthe non-contact-type IC card C3, a card of the NFC (Near FieldCommunication) standard can be exemplified.

By causing the non-contact-type IC card C3 to approach thenon-contact-type IC reading unit 6, the electronic information of the ICchip of the non-contact-type IC card C3 is acquired by thenon-contact-type IC sensor 61.

In this way, the magnetic reading unit 4 and contact-type IC readingunit 5 are arranged to the side of one vertical lateral surface (rightsurface 25) of the housing 2, in a front view of the housing 2. Inaddition, the non-contact-type IC reading unit 6 is arranged to the sideof another lateral surface (left surface 26) of the housing 2.

The following effects are exerted according to the portable electronicdevice 1 of the embodiment, for example.

The portable electronic device 1 of the embodiment includes the housing2 and the touch panel display unit 3 provided to the front surface 21 ofthe housing 2, along with including the magnetic reading unit 4,contact-type IC reading unit 5 and non-contact-type IC reading unit 6 asreading units that perform reading processing of cards related topayment. The magnetic reading unit 4, contact-type IC reading unit 5 andnon-contact-type IC reading unit 6 are integrally configured with thehousing 2. For this reason, according to the portable electronic device1 of the embodiment, it is possible provide a tablet-type portableelectronic device 1 that can perform payment by cards, as well as beingcompact.

In addition, compared to a configuration establishing a separate readingunit (card reader) to be external via a cable, it is possible to avoidskimming from the cable connection portion. In addition, by configuringintegrally, it is possible to improve the portability and operability.

In addition, the IC reading unit 5 includes the contact-type IC sensor51 that acquires electronic information from the IC chip of thecontact-type IC card C2, and the IC insertion groove 52 provided in thehousing 2 for guiding the IC chip of the contact-type IC card C2 to theposition of the contact-type IC sensor 51. The magnetic reading unit 4includes the magnetic sensor 41 that acquires magnetic information fromthe magnetic recording part of the magnetic card C1, and the magnetinsertion groove 42 provided in the housing 2 for guiding the magneticrecording part of the magnetic card C1 to the position of the magneticsensor 41. The IC insertion groove 52 and magnetic insertion groove 42overlap in parts thereof. For this reason, it is possible to achievespace savings of the space (room) of the IC insertion groove 52 and thespace (room) of the magnet insertion groove 42.

In addition, in the insertion direction D32 of the contact-type IC cardC2 to the IC insertion groove 52, the IC insertion groove 52 is providedmore to the interior region 525 than the magnetic insertion groove 42.In addition, the contact-type IC sensor 51 is arranged in the interiorregion 525. For this reason, it is possible to arrange the contact-typeIC sensor 51 at a position not overlapping the magnet insertion groove42, and thus the degree of freedom in design is high.

In addition, the IC insertion groove 52 includes the embossing groovepart 522 having a shape corresponding to the embossing C22 of thecontact-type IC card C2. For this reason, during insertion of thecontact-type IC card C2 to the IC insertion groove 52, it is possible toapply the embossing groove part 522 as an insertion guide.

In addition, in the front view of the portable electronic device 1, thecontact-type IC reading unit 5 and the magnetic reading unit 4 arearranged to a side of the right surface 25, which is the one verticallateral surface, of the housing 2. In addition, the non-contact-type ICreading unit 6 is arranged to a side of the left surface 26, which isthe other vertical lateral surface, of the housing 2. For this reason,compared to a format in which the contact-type IC reading unit 5,magnetic reading unit 4 and non-contact-type IC reading unit 6 arearranged on the side of the right surface 25, for example, it is easierto achieve a size reduction in the longitudinal direction D2.

Although an ideal embodiment of the present invention is explained inthe foregoing, the present invention is not to be limited to theaforementioned embodiment, and can be implemented in various forms.

For example, in the embodiment, although the magnetic reading unit 4,contact-type reading unit 5 and non-contact-type reading unit 6 areincluded as reading units that perform reading processing of a cardrelated to payment, it is not limited thereto. It is sufficient so longas the portable electronic device includes one or more reading units.

In the embodiment, although the magnet insertion groove 42 and the ICinsertion groove 52 are concaved in the left direction D32, it is notlimited thereto. The magnet insertion groove 42 and the IC insertiongroove 52 may be concaved to another direction (for example, rightdirection D31, thickness direction D1, longitudinal direction D2).

The contact-type IC reading unit 5, magnetic reading unit 4 andnon-contact-type reading unit 6 may be arranged on the same side.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

-   -   1 portable electronic device    -   2 housing    -   3 display unit    -   4 magnetic reading unit (reading unit)    -   5 contact-type IC reading unit (reading unit)    -   6 non-contact-type IC reading unit (reading unit)    -   21 front surface    -   22 back surface    -   23 top surface    -   24 bottom surface    -   25 right surface    -   26 left surface    -   41 magnetic sensor    -   42 magnet insertion groove    -   51 contact-type IC sensor (IC sensor)    -   52 IC insertion groove    -   61 non-contact-type IC sensor    -   421 bottom part    -   521 bottom part    -   522 embossing groove part    -   523 main groove part    -   524 overlapping region    -   525 interior region    -   526 entrance edge    -   C1 magnetic card    -   C2 contact-type IC card    -   C22 embossing    -   C3 non-contact-type IC card    -   D1 thickness direction    -   D1 l front direction    -   D12 back direction    -   D2 longitudinal direction    -   D21 up direction    -   D22 down direction    -   D3 lateral direction    -   D31 right direction    -   D32 left direction, insertion direction

1. A tablet-type portable electronic device comprising: a plate-shapedhousing; a touch panel and display unit provided to a front surface ofthe housing; and a reading unit that is integrally configured with thehousing and performs reading processing of a card related to payment,wherein the housing is substantially rectangular in a front view of theportable electronic device, wherein the reading unit includes acontact-type IC reading unit that performs reading processing of acontact-type IC card serving as the card, a magnetic reading unit thatperforms reading processing of a magnetic card serving as the card, anda non-contact-type IC reading unit that performs reading processing of anon-contact-type IC card serving as the card, wherein the contact-typeIC reading unit has a contact-type IC sensor that acquires electronicinformation from an IC chip of the contact-type IC card, and an ICinsertion groove provided in the housing for guiding the IC chip of thecontact-type IC card to a position of the IC sensor, wherein themagnetic reading unit includes a magnetic sensor that acquires magneticinformation from a magnetic recording part of the magnetic card, and amagnetic insertion groove provided in the housing for guiding themagnetic recording part of the magnetic card to a position of themagnetic sensor, wherein the contact-type IC reading unit is arranged toa side of a lateral surface along a shorter direction or a longerdirection of the housing, as well as opening to an outer side of thehousing and being concaved with a bottom to an inner side of thehousing, wherein the magnetic reading unit is arranged to a side of alateral surface along a shorter direction or a longer direction of thehousing, as well as opening to an outer side of the housing and beingconcaved with a bottom to an inner side of the housing, and wherein thenon-contact-type IC reading unit is arranged to a side of the verticallateral surface along the shorter side of the housing, and can read anon-contact-type IC card arranged at the front surface of the housing.2. The portable electric device according to claim 1, wherein the ICinsertion groove and the magnet insertion groove are overlapping inportions thereof.
 3. The portable electronic device according to claim1, wherein the IC insertion groove includes an embossing groove parthaving a shape corresponding to an embossing of the IC card.
 4. Theportable electronic device according to claim 2, wherein the ICinsertion groove includes an embossing groove part having a shapecorresponding to an embossing of the IC card.